Simon Tuska. The Stranger in the Synagogue. Or The Rites and Ceremonies of the Jewish Worship, Described and Explained.

AUCTION 61 | Wednesday, March 12th, 2014 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic Art and Ceremonial Objects

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Lot 15
(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Simon Tuska. The Stranger in the Synagogue. Or The Rites and Ceremonies of the Jewish Worship, Described and Explained.

pp. 52. Ex-library, lightly foxed. Original boards, upper cover and title loose. 12mo. Singerman 1363.

Rochester: E. Darrow & Brother 1854

Est: $500 - $700
PRICE REALIZED $600
The Hungarian-born author (1835–1871) was son of the Rabbi Mordecai Tuska of Rochester, New York. After two years of U.S. schooling young Tuska was awarded one of the first scholarships to the University of Rochester. Although he specialized in Greek and Latin, his chief interest was Judaism and while still a student wrote the present work to explain Jewish rites and ceremonies to both his Christian colleagues and the Jewish public. He was warmly praised by Isaac Mayer Wise, but his critique of Talmudic law drew the censure of Isaac Leeser. See A.J. Karp, Simon Tuska’s The Stranger in the Synagogue, in: Univesity of Rochester Library Bulletion, Vol. XIV, no. 1 (1958).